How Are Beliefs Formed?

Our beliefs make us who we are, and who we are not. Curly Martin, author of The Life Coaching Handbook, suggests that understanding how beliefs are formed is necessary to being an effective life coach.

“You have created, and continue to create, an image of yourself that is based on the attitudes of other people. It is an image that can either help or hinder the development of your potential and it changes with circumstances and situations.”

The authority figures in your life, from parents to peers, influenced the development of your beliefs – and these are some very fundamental beliefs! As children, we are very impressionable. We are attempting to understand ourselves and the world around us, and we look to others to help with this. The smallest of experiences, like the opinion of a teacher, can plant the seed of a belief.

As an adult, you are more capable of questioning these beliefs and the people who taught them to you. However, it is likely that you are not aware of each of these beliefs. They have become a part of your self-image. This is essentially a collection of beliefs about yourself that dwell in your subconscious. Whether or not you are aware of these beliefs, you can be certain that they are deeply influencing your life to this day.

So, if you are struggling within your life, you are probably struggling within your mind first – and the quickest way to bring about change is to decide to change.

“As soon as you decide to change, you have the freedom to choose and to enjoy empowering beliefs and behaviors.”

In other words, when you finally choose to operate outside of your beliefs about who you are, you can escape the prison of your comfort zone and really transform your life and the lives of your clients.

Of course, this is easier said than done! Our subconscious loves to prove us right. This collection of beliefs called self-image provides us security, confidence, and comfort on many levels. It is understandable why people may react in a very defensive manner when these beliefs are questioned or challenged. Once we’ve developed a self-image, we can find it very difficult to prove it wrong and begin the process of change.

To begin, Curly Martin suggests examining a limiting belief and writing down all of the things that you feel support this belief. Then, you turn that belief into a positive statement (i.e. “I am a happy person”) and repeat it to yourself over and over again. It becomes an affirmation that is meant to sink into your subconscious and overwrite that original, limiting belief.

Some people find affirmations to be effective, but many others have little or no results even after dedicated practice. This is where the Logical Soul® technique is a unique tool. By communicating with the subconscious to explore hidden decisions and gaining access to change them, you can alter these limiting beliefs much more quickly. Instead of fighting your subconscious with conscious commands, you can work in harmony with your subconscious mind.

However you choose to work with your life coaching clients, beliefs are definitely an obstacle you want to know how to overcome.

Want to learn more about life coaching? Take a look at Dr. Craig’s free report for coaches.